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Iraqi-American Sheikh Ibrahim Kazerooni of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, said in a Friday, January 3, 2020 sermon that America's killing of IRGC General Qasem Soleimani and PMU Deputy Chairman Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis earlier that day had been a "cowardly and heinous act" and that the only countries celebrating his death are the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. He led a prayer for the souls of Soleimani and Al-Muhandis and told the congregation that Soleimani had "brought hope to the marginalized [and] hatred and fear to the enemies of Islam." He explained that Soleimani had been instrumental in keeping the Syrian regime in power despite American and Zionist attempts to destabilize it, in defending Iraq against ISIS alongside the PMU, and in ultimately defeating ISIS in Iraq, which Sheikh Kazerooni described as the "extended arm of American foreign policy." He cited several examples from Islamic literature that speak of martyrdom as a virtuous act and added: "Let's wait and see what happens next."
Ibrahim Kazerooni: "The cowardly and heinous act of assassinating General Qasem Soleimani changed the plot [of my original sermon] and I would be doing a disservice if I did not address that issue first.
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"Please join me in reciting the Al-Fatiha verse for the soul [of a deceased congregant] and the soul of the late General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, who were assassinated together. 'In the name of Allah the Merciful and Compassionate...'
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"Who was this general? His presence brought hope to the marginalized and to those who were afraid, and it brought hatred and fear to the enemies of Islam – particularly the United States.
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"He was instrumental in keeping the government in Syria intact against all attempts and the billions of dollars that were spent on arms and guidance that were given by the United States, Zionists, and everybody else [in order] to destabilize and turn Syria into a dysfunctional state. Particularly, his importance was felt in the war in 2014 and 2015 against ISIS in Iraq – in Mosul – where ISIS became an extended arm of American foreign policy to destabilize the region and to fracture Iraq. And he, with a team of his own advisors and supporters, worked with the PMU to defend Iraq against ISIS and everything else. They succeeded.
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"The three countries that primarily were celebrating his absence are the United States, the Israeli government, and the government of Saudi Arabia.
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"Only God knows what is going to happen next, but let me remind the Americans [and] Europeans that the one who laughs last, laughs the most.
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"These people are not afraid of death. For them, martyrdom is a lofty idea that they chase. Just listen to his wife, and the comment that she made this morning. She borrowed the phrase from Zaynab and said: 'This meager offering, accept it from us.' [She said] 'Blessed be your soul – you were chasing death and martyrdom in the mountains, valleys, and plains, and look ultimately where it came to you – in the middle of Baghdad. Remember me on the Day of Judgement.' These people are not afraid of death. The panic is on the other side. Immediately, we have to send Hercules airplanes to evacuate everything, shut down the embassy, and give a warning here and there to all the [U.S.] citizens to get out. [Ali Ibn Abi Talib said:] 'Are you threatening me with death, oh son of a freed slave? Death is inevitable, and martyrdom is an honor for us from Allah.'
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"The verse is clear: 'There are two good alternatives for us, and two equally bad and cursed alternatives for you. For us, there is either martyrdom or victory. For you, [there is either] punishment from Allah or defeat in our hands.' Let's wait and see what happens next."
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